Use cautionVehicle recall · NHTSA · Published March 20, 2025
Tesla Model S 2021 Air Bag Recall: Horn May Not Work
Tesla is recalling 2021 Model S vehicles with incorrect horn pads that may prevent the horn from working, increasing crash risk. Owners must contact Tesla for free repair.
Tesla is recalling certain 2021 Model S vehicles because some have air bags with incorrect horn pads that could prevent the horn from working. This could increase the risk of a crash if the driver needs to alert other drivers. Read more at govinfonow.com/recall/80688-tesla-model-s-2021-air-bag-recall-horn-may-not.
“Tesla Model S 2021 Air Bag Recall: Horn May Not Work.” GovInfoNow, updated August 18, 2026. https://govinfonow.com/recall/80688-tesla-model-s-2021-air-bag-recall-horn-may-not. Based on NHTSA recall #25V172000 (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=25V172000).
Tesla, Inc. recalled certain 2021-2024 Model S and 2021-2025 Model X vehicles on March 19, 2025, after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced an air bag defect that may prevent the horn from sounding. Owners should contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752 for a free inspection and installation of the correct horn pad.
How to tell if you have it
Tesla Model S, 2021-2024
Tesla Model X, 2021-2025
What to do
Tesla service will inspect and install an air bag with the correct horn pad as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 20, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752.
The hazard
An inoperative horn may prevent the driver from alerting other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash. The defect involves an air bag with the incorrect horn pad that was installed during manufacturing.
Context
GovInfoNow's records show Tesla, Inc. has 71 other recalls on record since March 29, 2018. Other recent recalls of similar products include a September 1, 2026 suspension recall for the Tesla Model Y and a July 7, 2026 crash safety recall for the same model. Recent air bag recalls in the industry include a December 10, 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan recall, a June 2, 2026 Chrysler Pacifica recall, and a November 6, 2025 GMC Hummer EV Pickup recall.
How to tell if you have this one
Check if your Tesla Model S was manufactured in 2021. The recall covers vehicles where the air bag has the wrong horn pad.
Brand
Tesla
Category
Vehicle
Based on the official NHTSA remedy
What to do — step by step
Contact Tesla
Call Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752 to schedule a free repair for the air bag.
Official remedy
What NHTSA says to do
Tesla service will inspect and install an air bag with the correct horn pad as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 20, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-25-20-001.
How this recall unfolded
Recall timeline
Owners were mailed letters 2 months after NHTSA received the defect report.
1NHTSA received the defect report
2Owner letters mailed
Dates from the agency record only; steps without a date are left out.
Subject: Recall 25V172000 — Tesla Model S 2021 Air Bag Recall: Horn May Not Work
Hello,
I own a Tesla Model S 2021 Air Bag Recall: Horn May Not Work that is covered by recall 25V172000 from Tesla.
The official recall notice states: Tesla service will inspect and install an air bag with the correct horn pad as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 20, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-25-20-001.
I’m writing to arrange the remedy described in the recall (a refund, repair, or replacement as applicable). Could you please tell me the next steps to resolve this?
Thank you.
The facts (hazard, remedy, dates, manufacturer) are pulled from the official NHTSA recall record. The plain-language summary and step-by-step checklist are written by GovInfoNow to make the official notice easier to act on — they don’t replace it.
Plain-language summary written by qwen3:4b on August 18, 2026, from the official record above. Not reviewed by a person — if it conflicts with the NHTSA notice, the notice is correct. Report an error on this page.
GovInfoNow is an independent service and is not a government agency. We republish official NHTSA recall data; we don’t issue, amend or administer recalls.